8 minute read
Vitax increases range and capacity
g a rd e n t ra d e n e w s . c o . u k
A d v i c e & in f o r m a t i o n f o r g a rd e n c e n t re prof es si o n a l s
Rose Guard joins
Vitax organic range
Vitax organic products took centre stage at Glee with the addition of a ready-to-use spray to its range to meet the demand for environmentally friendly products which are non-toxic and chemical-free.
New for 2022 is Vitax Organic Rose Guard. Formulated to protect roses against disease and mildew, the ready-to-use spray joins Organic Rose Food and Organic Liquid Rose Feed as part of Vitax’s organic rose range.
Completely natural and pesticide-free, Vitax Organic Rose Guard offers protection against aphids, such as greenfly and blackfly, and guards against spider mites and other bugs. It is also non-toxic to pets and wildlife and bee friendly.
The new addition proved popular at the show along with two other organic products Vitax Organic All Purpose Plant Food and Vitax Organic Tomato Food. Launched last year, both feeds have been popular amongst consumers looking for easy-to-use, all-round organic fertilisers.
Significant investment increases Vitax liquid production capacity
Following a year of unprecedented demand for its gardening products, Vitax is pleased to announce that it has completed a significant investment in its manufacturing capacity ready for 2021-22.
A new, purpose-built bulk liquid production facility has been added to its manufacturing unit at Coalville, Leicestershire.
The bulk liquid output will supply the company’s expanded filling line production at Skelmersdale. This in-house capacity will present the opportunity to closer synchronise the operations of manufacturing, filling and storage of liquid fertilisers, through to the distribution of finished product onto retailers’ shelves.
Carl Welsh, Vitax’s managing director and group CEO, says: “The growing popularity in gardening over the past 18 months has presented a range of challenges for the industry, more specifically its capability to keep up with consumer demand.
“The customised bulk liquid manufacturing facility will increase our ability to match production of the Vitax liquid fertiliser ranges to the changing seasonal requirements of our customer base.”
G l e e -f u l l t i m e a t t h e N E C
What a wonderful time we had at Glee! The show certainly lived up to its name this year. Aisles full of happy buyers with money to spend and exhibitors with hordes of new products for them to order. A Glee-full time appeared to be had by all.
The GTN team certainly had a great Glee. The New Product Showcase and Awards had an amazing number of innovative new products that will undoubtedly ring through garden centre tills in 2022. Our readers, on-line, voted in their hundreds for the winners of the Glee Buyers Power List and what a worthy list of winners they were! And we capped it all with Floral Thursday for Greenfingers where more exhibitors and visitors then ever got involved in the FUNdraising for the charity that creates magical gardens at Children’s Hospices. All reported twice a day throughout the show by the GTN team in Glee Daily News.
In this issue we attempt to give a flavour of Glee 2021 and all the happiness those who made the journey to the NEC experienced. Wasn’t it just so good to be able to see people and products for real after 18 months of Zoom!
In November’s issue of GTN we’ll be publishing a full directory of the products entered into the Glee New Products Showcase and Awards, so you’ll be able to make sure you haven’t missed any opportunities to buy products that could be swelling turnover next year.
And now, post Glee we turn our thoughts to Christmas which has seen a slower start than the previous few years due to a mix of later Christmas openings, stock still not arriving and latterly the petrol shortages. If that is the effect of panic buying caused by the media, should we start a rumour to get panic buying of pots and pot feet?
In the background we’re working out how to run The Greatest Christmas Awards for 2021. Several of you have already expressed your interest to enter and be judged. Watch this space and look out for announcements in GTN Xtra over the coming weeks.
I can feel a ho, ho, ho coming on… See you again soon!
In this issue...
1 Vitax increases range and capacity 6 Remembering Eddie Topping MBE 10 Capturing the essence of Autumn at Chelsea 14 Get Grilling with Traeger
Glee 2021 19 Glee 2021 – a special return 20 Glee Buyers Power List 22 Glee New Product Awards 26 Sustainability Award – Southern Trident 28 Glee 2021 Gallery 34 Floral Thursday
36 GTN Bestsellers Subscription Offer 37 GTN Bestsellers – September garden centre sales analysis and charts 43 Garden Centre Books 44 HTA Column – Tales of the unexpected 45 GIMA Column – The future is looking bright
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Garden Trade News is published by Potting Shed Press Ltd who also publish: GTN Bestsellers, GTN Xtra, Glee Daily News and the Glee Catalogue, and the Solex Sun. Potting Shed Press also supply Garden Radio to over 100 garden centres across the country.
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